Campus murder: Violent act exposes lack of security on varsity campus

Man allegedly walks into campus, shoots a female student dead without any hindrance.

RAWALPINDI:

Students of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University (AAU) have expressed serious concern over the lack of adequate security arrangements on campus after a man allegedly walked onto campus and shot a female student dead without any hindrance.

Saira Naveed, a 22-year-old BS Computer Science student, was leaving the university on July 16 when Shoaib Ismail, 26, appeared on the scene and shot her in the head.

Female AAU students told The Express Tribune that after the incident, they felt insecure and asked the university administration to improve security arrangements on campus.

Meanwhile, a court on Thursday sent Ismail on judicial remand for two weeks.

The accused was produced before a court by the New Town police, where he reportedly confessed to the crime, according to Muhammad Hayat, the investigation officer for the case.

Ismail claimed that they had contracted a court marriage some four years ago as Naveed’s parents opposed the marriage.

The investigation officer claimed that the accused had already confessed.

He said that the police would submit a challan after completion of Ismail’s remand.

According to the police, the alleged killer was quoted by an investigation officer as saying, “I stayed near her, waiting for her to die, because I wanted to take her body to her parents’ house.”

The deceased was laid to rest near Afshan Colony, Qasim Market. A large number of students and relatives attended her funeral prayer.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2014.